Chakrata : the forgotten hill station

Located at an elevation of approx. 7000-7500 ft above sea level, with the highest mountain of the region being at 10,000 ft above sea level, Chakrata is a hidden gem nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas.

A Scenic Drive from Dehradun to Chakrata

I started my journey from Dehradun. As it was supposed to be a day trip only, I woke up early and set off on a road trip to Chakrata.
Covering a distance of 90 km, it took me approximately 3 hours to reach Chakrata. Although the roads were curvy and a little scary, the overall journey was amazing, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. As I ascend to higher altitudes, the air becomes crisp, and the surroundings become more serene.

Upon arrival in Chakrata, it was around 9 in the morning, and I was greeted by the refreshing mountain air and the awe-inspiring beauty of this hill station. I saw a little tea shop on Mall Road that was giving kulhad chai and Maggi. What tastes better than mountain Maggi, right?

After having 2 plates of Maggie, I started exploring the nearby area. The town is known for its pristine environment and captivating vistas. With its tranquil atmosphere and untouched natural surroundings, Chakrata offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. However, being a Military Cantonment Zone, it is a heavily surveillanced and access-restricted area.

The Northern part of the town is known for its amazing treks, so I decided to start from there only. While trekking through some of the permitted regions, I saw a group of people with binoculars. Curious, I asked them what they were doing, and I was surprised to know that they were Birdwatching. Turns out, Chakrata has rich flora and fauna, and people from different places come there for camping and bird watching. After a brief interaction, I continued on my trek. Later that day, I ended up going to the Tiger Falls. It is one of the major attractions of Chakrata and as much as I wanted to take a dip, the water was ice chilled, and I had to head back to Dehradun.

The trek back to the main road was just as beautiful as the sun was setting. By the time I reached Mall Road, it was already starting to get dark so without wasting any time, I said goodbye to the beautiful mountains and headed back to Dehradun with some of the most amazing memories of a lifetime.